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New Police Chief Announced and Two Being Promoted to Police Major

Mayor Scott Schertzer is announcing final certification of test scores for the Police Department Promotional Exam has been received and that Bill Collins will be promoted to Chief of Police for the City of Marion. Also being promoted to the position of Police Major will be Jeff Clewell and Jon Shaffer. A swearing-in ceremony will be held on Monday, February 24, 2014 at 10:00 am on the 2nd Floor of Marion City Hall.

Collins attended The Ohio State University from 1983-1985 and also served as a member of the US Army Reserves during this same time. While beginning his career in law enforcement at the Marion County Sheriff’s Office in 1985, he also continued to serve as a US Army Reservist through 1989. Collins held the positions of Dispatcher, Jailer, and Road Deputy during his tenure at the Sheriff’s Office. In May 1989, Collins joined the Marion Police Department as a Patrolman. He was promoted to the position of Sergeant, which was transitioned into the current title of Lieutenant, in October 1995. In March 2000, Collins was promoted to Police Major. With his promotion to Chief of Police, Collins has held supervisory positions within every facet of the Marion Police Department. He brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the Chief's position and will become the 14th Chief for the Marion Police Department.

Collins stated, “I am very proud to be the 14th Chief of Police since 1903 for the City of Marion. As Chief, I will do my very best to continue the very proud heritage and history of the Marion City Police Department. To Protect and Serve the citizens of Marion will continue to be our number one goal. We will continue to live and work by our Core Values, Loyalty, Integrity, Fairness and Trustworthy to maintain the most professional police agency possible. I look forward to the excitement of leading the Marion Police Department in the coming years.”

Shaffer is a 1996 graduate of Marion Harding High School where he played football and wrestled for the Presidents. Following high school, Jon attended The Ohio State University at Marion and then transferred to Mount Vernon Nazarene College (now known as Mt Vernon Nazarene University) and graduated in May 2000 with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology (Criminal Justice) and a Minor in Spanish.

In August 2000, he was hired as a Police Officer for the Marion Police Department and after attending the Ohio Highway Patrol Academy he joined the Operations function at the police department. Shaffer was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant, serving mostly on second shift, with brief stops on first shift and third shift along the way in June 2007. In his position as Major, Shaffer will be assigned to the Administrative Division.

Clewell is a graduate of Marion Harding High School. After graduation, he enlisted with the U.S. Army as an Infantryman, receiving multiple military awards during his service. After leaving active duty, Jeff joined the Army Reserves and is currently a Sergeant Major in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Clewell joined the Marion Police Department as a Patrolman in October 1995 and graduated from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy in April 1996. While serving as a patrolman, Jeff served in the patrol division, as well as the Community Policing Unit. Clewell co-developed the 1st Citizens Police Academy in 2001. Jeff was promoted to Lieutenant in November 2003. In his position as Major, Clewell will be assigned to the Operations Division.